For you Ma!

Well, I've been getting a little flack from a particular someone about not having posted anything to my blog in a while, so here goes...

First, there has been knitting.  I've jumped on the bandwagon and am knitting a pair Monkey socks.  It took me four tries to find the "perfect" yarn.  My first attempt was with Hill Country Yarns Alpaca Sock yarn in a warm cinnamon color.  The yarn was yummy and so squishy soft, but the gauge was off and the sock was turning out to be ginormous!  Then I tried a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock and that pooled like crazy.  My third try was with a skein of Happy Cotton Sock Color but I didn't like the colorway I was using and frogged it.  I finally settled on Hill Country Yarns Superfine Superwash sock yarn in the Aquarina colorway and I love it!  No pooling!  I'm actually quite a bit further than this pic and am already about halfway down the foot!  I used a garter stitch short row heel and am not too sure whether I like the looks of it -- I'll post a pic as soon as it stops raining and I can step outside and take a nice sunny pic.  I really love this pattern -- it's an 11 row lace pattern repeat that's actually quite easily memorized.

Also, Football Star Son and I attended his freshman college orientation.  This was my view from my hotel window.  Nice, eh?  Yeah well, despite the view from the hotel window, the accommodations were by far better than the dorms that most of the other suckers parents opted to stay in.  Um, no thanks.

And while we were in the area, we decided to do a little sight-seeing and headed up to Gruene for dinner at the Gristmill River Restaurant, which is a restaurant "built in the remains of a brick boiler house that was originally constructed  in 1878 as a part of a cotton gin powered by water from the Guadalupe River".  Very cool.  After dinner, there was shopping in the General Store of course, where I picked up some Cinnamon Honey-Butter and some Apricot Salsa!

Yes, I've been very busy knitting and traveling, but I have to be honest and tell you all the real reason I haven't had time to blog lately.  It's Ravelry.  Ravelry.  The Ultimate Time Vaporizing Website.  You know, when I first got my invite to Ravelry I swore I wouldn't blog about it until all other 7,000 (plus) of you got your invitations because I felt it was a little rude to do so.  You know, kind of like being inside of a really jammin' night club screaming to all those standing in line outside waiting to get in about how much fun you're having.  Just.  Not.  Right.  But having said that, let me just say that it's wonderful, it is worth the wait, and it will totally rob you of entire weekends without a moment's notice, so be warned. 

And finally, as if I'm not busy enough, I decided today that I'm going to fly to Chicago in August to attend Stitches Midwest!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!  Let me know if any of you are going and maybe we can meet up!

Okay, my Monkeys are call me! 

Comments

[Elemmaciltur]

Ahhhhh.....isn't that the Sweet Pea Shawl I see you holding in the picture?

Oh, and here's an embarrassing thing: I didn't even know it was you who added me on Ravelry. I got so many people adding me now that I just add them back without looking who it is. Then you were talking about being on Ravelry and then I was: "What the heck? Why haven't I seen this gal around?!"

Ps. When are you going to do another episode of Crochet Cast? Are you ever doing an episode again? :-(

[Glamaw/ aka Queen E, Lady of Laughter, We take our sillieness seriously .]

Well, finally!!!! I am so happy to hear what is going
on.

[robin]

I live in the Chicago area and will be going to Stitches Midwest - you should post about the meetup on the SKC site too!

[Rita]

OMG, you're in Texas, too? I love Gruene. (I'm in Houston.) I've been reading you for a bit, but had no idea what part of the country you were in. I probably missed that somewhere along the way. Cool!

[maureen]

ooohhhh I envy you the trip to Stitches. East will be in Baltimore this year, but I am not sure whether or not I'll do more than a day. :(

[Amy]

The Gristmill is delish. I haven't eaten there in years.

I'm right there with ya regarding Ravelry. It's so addictive, my kids complain when they see me on the site.

Amy

[Bev Love]

Hi Jeanie,
I am on my second pair of Monkey socks, the first pair were for Mom. She loved them, she made everyone look at them at her birthday dinner :) I enjoy the pattern so much I started a pair for me in Regia Jeans/Denim Blue. I have already decided I must have a pair in black. I am sure my Sister will want a pair too when she sees them, and on it goes.
Health and happiness,
Bev

[sarah]

Love, love, love the Gristmill! Gruene is such an awesome town.

I wandered over here via Yarn Crawl because I hear you're looking for a roomie for Stitches Midwest. I'll be there Thursday thru Sunday myself, so if you're interested, drop me a line: sarahloisATmsnDOTcom. Thanks!

[Maryanne]

Love the pic of you and your son together - so cute :) The Monkey socks are next on my list! I've heard that they're not as difficult as they look, so thanks for posting about your yarn choices etc. I'm excited to get started - thanks for introducing me to socks Jeanie!! I'm anxiously awaiting my Ravelry invite after hearing about everyone loving the site so much. I've got a miserably tiny stash though, so I don't imagine it will take too long to get it in there :) I probably will still spend loads of time there though, looking at everyone else's cool stuff! Have a fantastic time at Stitches!!

[Chelle]

Can't wait to meet you at Stitches. I am taking classes Friday and Saturday - but I think you're smart to just explore this year - the Market and the people watching are the best part. I definitely DO want to meet you while I'm there. Can't wait!

[Elspeth]

I thank you heartily for not going on and on about how great Ravelry is when most people can't get in. It was excruciating hearing about it everywhere and not having an invite!

[sarah]

Glad to see you haven't blogged lately, either! Hee...